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Podcast: レアジョブ英会話 Daily News Article Podcast
Episode: Plush wars? Squishmallows toy maker and Build-A-Bear sue each other over ‘copycat’ accusations
Description: It turns out there are lots of sharp elbows in the plush toy business. Build-A-Bear and the makers of Squishmallows are facing off in federal court.
Kelly Toys and its Berkshire Hathaway-controlled parent company Jazwares have sued Build-A-Bear, saying its new “Skoosherz” toys copy the look and feel of their mega-popular Squishmallows products.
The Skoosherz line, which Build-A-Bear began selling last January, has the “same distinctive trade dress” of Squishmallows, the complaint filed says, pointing to similarities in shape, face style, coloring and fabric.
“If a picture is worth a thousand words, comparing the Squishmallows original products to Build-A-Bear’s copycats spe...